PGA Tour Superstore and Dick's Sporting Goods Opening In The Valley

Two Sports Megastores Add Jobs And Competition

PALM DESERT, Calif. - Two giant retailers are holding grand openings this weekend, bringing selection and competition to the Coachella Valley. The PGA Tour Superstore is opening at Highway 111 and Fred Waring. Dick's Sporting Goods is also opening at Westfield Shoppingtown.

Store executives and consumers agree the competition will be a plus for the local economy, two sporting goods megastores are teeing up for their grand openings this weekend.

Cathedral City resident Vince Heliker agrees... "both are big name companies so it's good for the Valley."

Although there is still exterior construction going on, don't let that deceive you, consumers can already shop Dick's Sporting Goods at \Westfield Shoppingtown. Dick's is the largest full-line sporting retailer in the U.S. and its arrival created 70 local jobs.

Marlene and Russell Allen have been inside... "a big store like that is definitely going to have opportunities.""yea it really is a superstore, it really is big."

The 47-thousand square foot store will hold an official launch this friday but it has some competition. Just about a block away, the PGA Tour Superstore also makes its debut.

Ron Whited, Vice President of Operations for the PGA Tour Superstore says "it's the Disneyland of golf if you will, although it isn't as quaint as a smaller store and some of the competition that's around here, there's friendly people they're from the marketplace they know everybody but more importantly it's the wow factor."

Customer Jim Bentley says "I enjoyed hitting off the mats, seeing what the ball was doing with the different drivers, which one performed better."

The golf mecca covers more than an acre and includes a 2-thousand square foot putting green. It also creates about 65 jobs during high season.

Many agree with both stores adding to the already saturated sporting goods market here, it's the consumer that comes out on top.

Jim Bantley "the consumer wins across the board cuz they're gonna get a better experience at other stores not just ours. I think it sharpens the game in the retail business as well.""It gives us more variety, it gives us competition and keeps the prices competitive and hopefully bigger selection."

The PGA Superstore officially opens this Saturday.

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